Linkbar

Thursday, March 30, 2006

About Me

I am a mother to two amazing kids and wife to a retired Air Force Sergeant. They are truly my best friends, my whole life.

I was born in Mozambique but shortly after had to leave due to the Independence War and there began my journey. From Mozambique to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and then to Portugal, where we lived for 10 years and finally to South Africa where I spent most of my life. It is what I consider my home, it's where I did my schooling, where I made my first friends, had my first boyfriend and grew into a young woman.

I spent many years as a Radio DJ and I absolutely loved it, in between that, I also sang, yes sang, in front of many thousands of people and recorded two songs. They were some of the best years of my life, I look back today and thank the Lord for having been so blessed and having experienced so many wonderful adventures during my childhood years.

In 1997 I met my husband, Curtis, on the internet. He was in the States and I was in South Africa. After one year of communicating back and forth, he flew to South Africa and we were married, shortly after I moved to the USA.

I left behind my whole life, my family, my friends, my roots and with a little baby in my belly, I made the huge journey across the ocean from one continent to another. It was scary and it was exciting and I'm so glad I did it.

We've now been married for 15 years and have two beautiful children who we love more than life.

I love cooking, reading, crocheting, photography, knitting, sewing, astronomy, movies, Jane Austen.....so many things, I think it's what life is about, being able to enjoy a little of everything.
I'm a firm believer in enjoying every single second and making it count.

The years we spent as a military family were some of the hardest times in our lives, there were many sacrifices, many tears and many separations, but also many rewards. It was a life lived to the fullest, and an amazing roller coaster of adventures.

We are living our dream, a home in the country surrounded by nature, by mountains and horses and cows. It's all about learning a new way of life, how to do things, how to budget with a retirement check and how to live away from a military base and the routines and schedules that we were so used to.

I always say that if the pioneers could do it, then so can we. Where life is going to lead us, we are not sure, but as long as we're together, it doesn't matter....we will be happy.

44 comments:

Hi there Sandra, I was browsing the net looking for a Cod with cream recipe and came across your wonderful website filled with marvelous recipes that I also remember from my childhoold. My parents are both portuguese. I too travelled alot when I was young. I was born in Bermuda, then moved to Portugal and finally came to the US when I was 11. I live in the state of MA.Thank you so much for having these recipes and I will surelly come back to visit.I was trying to leave you a note by clicking on the little envelope but it's not working for some reason. Anyway, here's my email if you'd like to write back.mterry75@comcast.netthanks again and have a great dayTerry

Could you please consider promoting http://www.refresheverything.com/sophiascure on your blog and twitter? Check out the link-if you have Facebook voting literally takes seconds.

Right now we are stuck in 3rd and have to be in 1st or 2nd to win the 250k (which will all go toward researching a cure.) If you check out the current leaders also you'll see how determined we are to win this funding. Thank you in advance for even considering it---reaching out to moms through some of the top mom blogs is our best chance I think.

Hi Sandra,Just found your blog for the bacalhau com natas and wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading you.I am portuguese and currently live in Porto, after 28 years in Paris.Por favor continua com as deliciosas receitas !Paula

Hi Sandra,Thank you for the recipe for the tomato and apple jam it sounds great.Do you think I could improvise with conference(hard)pears and does this originate from Portugal.My partner is called Sandra and we have had a roller-coaster ride of a life too.Keep the faith!

Wow! You certainly have lived an interesting life and were certainly very brave to leave the old life behind and travel to the USA with your husband to start a new one. That can't have been an easy choice to make. I had not read your story before. Thanks for sharing.

I came across your blog while searching for a recipe. Really great stuff on here and I plan on trying out a few recipes next week for my husband. It would be helpful if your layout changed a little making it easier to nagivate through the pages a bit like thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Welina mai me ke aloha e Sandra!I love your blog. Mahalo nui (thanks so much) for taking the time to put it together. The pictures are great, along with the step-by-step instructions! Love it. Again, thank you plenty for sharing your life with us!All the way from a little island in the middle of the Pacific ocean...Makanani

Hi,I'm new to all this. I'm a stay at home mom too. I feel almost disconnected to the world. I used to be a teacher before kids came along. I've been telling myself it's time to reconnect so I was thinking of writing my own blog. Yours is the very first one I have ever looked at read. I really like it. Might have to steal some of your menu ideas. Your food looks really yummy. Thanks for sharing...

I'm a new stay at home mom and like Yvette said before me, I'm new to this! I created my own blog just the other day and have already had so much fun doing it. I think every stay at home mom needs that creative outlet to the outside world! Look forward to reading your blog posts. Hope you stop by one day.

Hi! I am a military spouse, too. Hubby retired in 2009. I wrote a blog for military spouses, too.Get in touch if you'd like to. I found your blog while looking for something different to do with a roast in a crockpot, btw. I think I'm going to throw the salsa on it and see what I get.

I grew up in the Air Force life and loved it. We were stationed at Lajes AFB, Terceria for 2 years. It was a great place to start my teen years. We also were introduced to Portuguese cuisine. I'm so glad I found your blog.

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraI am glad i found your blog.Your posts Shows me realy how just living simply can be such a joy.

I am from Angola and that is not so far from your roots as you know Portugal colonized both Mozabimque and Angola. I also lived in South africa, that is where i grew up and met my hubby ( he is Angolan) which I am with for 8 years now. we have 3 little kids. Now that we are back in Angola my hubby works in a oil compony and he also leaves for 28 days and he is with us just 26 days.I am so new at this. Hubby leaving all the time I felt that you and I have so much in commom and above all we belong to the same family. The family of being christians.I just want to tell to continue bringing in your posts as they help many STHCM. When you went away for a while, few months ago, I became sad...please dont do that again, dont leaves us. WE need your encouragement. God bless you and your family

Hi SandraWOW, after following your blog for so long and reading about the lychees reminding you of South Africa, only then did I read more about you. I was born in Beira, Mozambique, left as a result of the war. We went to South Africa. But my father was from Portugal. Currently I live in New Zealand with my husband and 2 kids.No I know why I love your blog so much.

Hi there Sandra. I just found your blog, and I must say, it is my first! I recently started my hand at blogging in an attempt of leaving my daughter (now 5 months old), a type of journal about the life of her mother, her dreams and aspirations, her likes and dislikes, but most of all, her love for her daughter. I am also a military wife, and enjoy reading your blog, recipes and other tidbits you post. Just wanted to say a quick thank you for sharing your journey and for your lovely writing.

Hi Sandra I absolutely love, love the backgrounds on all your blogs. I am trying to have a blog about parenting special needs children and support for teachers also since I am one. I was wondering were I can find such beautiful backgrounds.

I find you and your blog so interesting!! I am also a stay at home mom of two cute little baby girls and I'm starting my own personal blog. I am totally new to all of this and would love tips about how to make your blog successful! I would love if you checke my blog jessiejoathome.blogspot.com and give me some tips! Thank you so much and keep up the good work! ;)

Sandra; my wife and I have also been married 12 years; I "just" retired in January and haven't regretted a minute of it. My wife kicked ass and took names on all my deployments; it's more helpful than anyone knows to have the support of your family back home when you are gone for extended periods of time.

Hello Sandra!! I accidently came across your blog while searching for a recipe, bitoque. I started to read more about you and was tickled to see how you and your husband met. I met my boyfriend online, he lives in Portugal, I am American. We have been talking and video chatting for well over a year, and I will be moving there at the end of the year! Do you have any tips for a new girl in Portugal? i have been trying to learn as much Portuguese as I can, but lol, it is hard for me. My boyfriend Sandro says that once I get there it won't be so bad, that I will pick it up pretty fast. Anyways, I just wanted to share my little story with you and tell you I love your blog, it will be such a big help to me with my move.

Hi Sandra, I have been reading your blog for years now, first when I was a SAHM mum of two myself in England, and now as a mum of four training to be a nurse in Ireland. I havent checked in in ages and I'm delighted that you have begun your new life in your rural idyll. You are brave and inspirational and honest and you really cheer me up and you have encouraged back to god, God Bless You and all who are dear to you.CC.

My name is Katie Crow and I'm a student at the University of Missouri and I am doing a class assignment that requires us to do research about stay-at-home moms and how they choose to use the Internet and how media can help improve and highlight these platforms. I came across your blog and this is the exact thing we are looking to learn more about! I was hoping I could talk to you about why your blog is important, your roles as a mom and the type of media you consume on and offline. Please email me if you would be able to talk about these things or if you have questions for me about our research. I look forward to hearing from you!

Join www.BIRTHDAY-CELEBRATIONS.biz and become financially stress free. Just choose a plan and we'll do the rest... with new members joining daily, rest assured your payout increases. Be sure to tell your family and friends by sharing!

I'm reaching out to you on behalf of a client to see if you'd be interested in doing a joint project with them.

We'd like to host a competition in your website to give your readers a chance to win flower bouquets for Mother's day which we are giving away as a prize. Mother's day is just around the corner so we'd love to get something up and running real soon :)

Is this something you are open to and have you done a similar promo like this before?

Hi Sandra, I am working on an article about SAMH on my blog to inspire those who chose the long tough road to become SAHM. We need to give them recognition where recognition is due. Please do contact me if you like to collaborate on this piece and I will link the article back to your website too! My email address is kally@MiddleMe.net. Looking forward in hearing from you. Thanks.

This is a request for permission for one time use of your photo of the low-lying sun through lace curtains from your August 2014 issue.

It would be displayed in our church newsletter which is printed for those in the congregation without internet access, by emails to those who can manage the technology, and placed in the Congregational Life portion of our church website along with the rest of the newsletter.

Credit to the photographer is given when the photo is not the property of our church. You can visit our webpage at http://trinityunitedgrimsby.ca/ to reassure yourself of the good taste of the venue in which wed hope to use your photo.

My name is Max, I’m writing because I recently found your blog and noticed that you sometimes review Christian products. We’re looking for bloggers like you who would like to review a Christian DVD for us.

FishFlix.com is one of the top sites on the web for Christian and family-friendly DVDs. We love having bloggers review products for us because it gives us perspective on the products we sell, and provides us with ever-valuable backlinks.

Could I send you a free DVD in exchange for an honest review and two links to our site? If you’re interested, please reply with your mailing address and your preference of movie type [Children’s | Feature Film | Documentary].

Hi Sandra, I would LOVE to feature you on Headliner. It's a discussion app so people (like me) can reply to each other with video comments to your videos and actually talk about it. If you're interested, let me know so I can get your video featured to all users and you can really get the discussions going.

I followed over to your other blog where you have the carrot cake recipe. I was not allowed to post there so I came back here to let you know that the carrot cake looks really good and easy too, I am going to try it very soon. Thanks for sharing it. Sending positive thoughts to you and your family.